Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-11-25
proceed with the erection of their building

AtCoi ml. w IillamS CLOSED. ME. Mcll
hany extended an invitation to such Q
those present who desired to give thei
testimony regarding the Association, t
do so.
In response, Mr.. Heber Ker made som
interesting remarks. He referred to th
fact that he had been present at th
founding Of tbe Stanton Association
thirteen years ago. and had been an inter
the work it had done. He said none couit
appreciate the value of these Association
better than one who had tour sons Twin,
away fomr home and in four different
States. A father with absent sons couIt
truly understand the value of these Asso-
Citations and the feeling of safety 1t CAV
when he knew a son of his was member
of one of them.
Mr.. Henry D. Peck in a few brief re-
marks testified earnestly to the value o.
the spiritual influence exerJed by the As
ISOLATION.
Prof. John Murray put high value or
= the good influence on young men that BIZ
thought the Staunton Association was
exercising.
Mr.. w. A. Burke heartily endorsed thu
work of the Association and spoke of it,
merit as an auxiliary to church work.
DR.. McFarland, pastor of the First
Presbyterian church. gave the Association
general and thorough endorsement, and
referred to its value as an aid to pastors
in bringing the youag men within reach
of church influence.
DIR. Nelson, pastor of the Staunton Bap-
fist church warmly endorsed what DR..
Mcfarland had said.
Rev. III. b. Pratt said that when he
came to Ssaunt0n he was opposed to
the Young Mems Christian Association as
encroaching on the field of the church,
but he was now, since observing its work
ings, glad to add his testimony to its value.
When he was student at college such
things as Y. M. G.. Associations at COL
leges were not known, and he could now
see if there had been one there in his time
he would have saved at least eighteen
months thrown away in his college course.
He had gone from home in which he
had had the training of pious parents, but
arriving in college had found nothing to
continue that training. The young stu
er meetings and other religious services Of
his elders as he is by the same thing car
ried on by those of bis own age. A col
lege Y. M. g. Association can completely
change not only the college life but the
whole future life of the boy who has left
home open to good impressions. AT this
day he would express his opinion of the
value of these Associations by saying that
he thought every man, of no matter what
age, ought to join one of them.
The venerable A. M. Simpson referred
to the old times when there were no such
Associations, land to the great loss thro ugh
their lack in those days.
Mr.. Guy Cochran, President of the As
ISOLATION, testified on behalf of the young
men to the great spiritual benefit that had
been derived from the Association meet
ings of which this was the closing one.
He said at the last meeting Of the just
ended week, three young men had risen
in their places and asked for prayer that
they might be aided In leading a changed
life.
Testimony was borne to the good work
of the Association by Messrs. Charles
Grattan, T. c. Morton, W. 81. Shirey, J
J. Prufer, e. W. Warden and many
others.
ANOTHER CLOUD OF WITNESSES.
Mr.. McIlhany then asked all who felt
they had been benefited by the work of the
Y.M. c. Association to rise in their seats.
In response nearly the whole congregation
of 500 persons rose and stood.
The meeting then closed, and with it
ended one of the most interesting series
of religious meetings that have been held
in Staunton.
THE STATE SECRETARY AT GREENvILLE.
State Secretary Williams and Mr.. H.
M. McIlhany, on Sunday morning, drove
up to Greenvills to visit the Association
there. They attended divine service there
In the morning, and IN the afternoon the
Y. M. G. A. meeting held at the Metho
dist church. Among those present we're
Prot Quarles of Washington 4 Lee Uni
versity, and Rev. Mr.. Merryman. pastor
of the Baptist church. State Secretary
Williams led the meeting, which was a
crowded one, and the spirit shown by the
audience was exceedingly gratifying to the
visitors. At 4:3U when the meeting closed,
Messrs. Williams and McIlhany took the
road and drove to Staunton in time to be
present at the Union meeting at night.
On Monday, Secretary Williams left
Stanton for Charlottesville and that
night was to give the students Christian
Association at Pantops Academy a talk.
and later in the night was to take the
train for Clifton Forge, where he was to
spend two days with the Association
there.
COLLEGE ASSOCIATIONS.
The Third Annual Conference of the
College Young Mems Christian Associa-
tiors will be In session at Roanoke College
December 81 to 4th. Among the speakers
to address it are j. B. Reynolds Of Yale
University, New Haven, Ct, Rev. DR..
McBryde of Lexington. Va, and State
Secretary H. y. w illiams.
EXTENSION OF THE MEETINGS FOR
This WEEK.
In view of the deep interest shown in
the meetings of the Association during
the Week of Prayer, and in answer to
many requests to that end, the meetings
have been kept up all this week. The
activity shown by the members in bringing
Young men in this week has been great